Means and method for storing and dispensing radiographic films



Feb. 19, 1935. POWERS 1,991,698

MEANS AND METHOD FOR STORING AND DISPENSING RADIOGRAPHIC FILMS Filed Jan. 29, 1952 2f ZG \\LLL- Fig: 5.

I N VEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 19, 1935 I. MEANS AND, METHOD FOR STORING AND 1 DISPENSING RADIOGRAPHIC a Frank 'li' Powers, Douglaston, N. Y.

"jimi ee i fir m? v n I V :22 Claims. (01. 1644 2 My invention relates to dispensing devices and particularly to a device for dispensing sensitized membrane, such as the film or paper used in the making of. radiographs with rays, or. thelike. 3 p a 1' The objects ofemy. inventionare to provide a simple, convenient and quickly.operable device for storing-and dispensing :the sensitized membrane used in the radiographic art,.by means of which the operator. mayprovide himself with a sheet of sensitivemedium of the particularsize desired,and to. permit: the packing, sale, purchase and use of the sensitivemediumas a continuous strip in theform of rolls instead of cut sheets, and by so doing materially reduce the cost of the sensitive medium. j i

Heretofore it hasbeen the practice to use sensi-v tive membranes for-radiographsin theform of cut sheets and asavarietyof sizes areused for diiferent purposes, it is necessary for the radiographer to keep a stock offlcutsheetsfof each of the sizes commonly used. The most popularsizes are 5 x 7, 7 x 9, 8 x 10, 10 x 12, 11x 14 and 14 x- 1'7 inches. To be prepared to meet any size requirements a stock of each of these and perhaps, of other sizes needs to be-kept on hand. If some of the sizes are used but infrequently the stock may deteriorate with age and becomes useless. These Xerays or gamma cut sheets are commonly packed in cardboard boxes containing one dozen or six dozen sheets;

These boxes must be of high quality, well made, and perfectlylight tight to properly protectthe contents. Inaddition tothe box container the sheets are carefully wrapped in waxed paper and an opaque. paper, and sometimes placed eachin separate envelopes for additional protection. Such packing asjhas heret'of ore been common is expensive and constitutes no inconsiderable' item in the total cost of the product; .In addition to this there isthe costofcutting themedium into sheets, and countingout and separately packag ingthem. p f' L I f Another inconvenience of. the present methods lies in the fact thateach time that a sheet of the sensitive membrane isdesiredfor use, thelight tight container opened, thefinner wrapping removed, the sheet'jtaken out and the balance of the sheets re-wrapped and returned'to the con tainer inorderto keep them safely protected from fogging byexposure to light. All of these operations are time; "consuming and are eliminated by my new device.

QBy the" use of my new sensitive medium may be putup by the manufacturer in rolls, "just as it comes "from the coating of forms.

dispensing device, the a 1932, serial No; 539,579

machine whichapplies the sensitive: 60313111510 the membrane, and without any" cutting into separate sheets or anypacking of sheets in expen-. sive containers, as described above. 1 These rolls of varying widthand any desired length, such for example as fifty feet; or one, two. or three hundred feet, maybe covered by' a light tight wrapping andsoldanddelivered in that form. The user merely places the; roll in my dispensingdevice in the dark room,- in which it is to be used; and measures off from, the end of the roll of membrane such length as. is desired, cuts it off and places it in the cassette forexposure.

By providing three widths of rolls of the sensitive membrane, for example 7", 10" and 14" 1 wide, sheets may becut tov any of the popular sizes mentioned above, the 5x 7: and 7 x9 size being" cut-.from the '7'. roll, the 8x10" and 10 x 12" sizes from the 10" rol1,, and the 11 x 14 and 14 x 17 sizes from the 14-inch roll.

This simplified, packing materially reduces the cost of the'sensitized membrane to the consumer and by :.carrying in stocktwo or three rolls of varying width the operator may cut ofi the size of sheet desired. Instead of opening,unwrapping,

lation on the part .of the operator.-v The consequent saving intime is a material item radiographic laboratory.

My inventionmay'find application in a variety I show in the accompanying drawing and hereinafter, describe a form which I prefer. In this drawing likemembersindicate the same or'. similar parts and arrows indicate the direction of motion or rotation. A Fig. 1 is an end view partly in section of one form ofgapparatus with portions shown as cut awaytomore clearly reveal interior parts.

Fig. 2 is ,a'vertical sectional view onthe line aa.

Fig... 3 is a horizontal sectional :view 'onpthe linebb. s

In Fig.1 I have shown a boxer-receptacle 1, consisting of a lower portion, 2, and. a lid or cover, 3,. connected by hinges 4, to the lower portion. The interior of the box may beprovided, if desired, with a member for excluding X-rays, and as shownthe box has a lead lining 2 This can beiused inthe absence ofother safeguards against in a busy disturbing. X-ray: action, but need not ,be used when there are other adequate safeguards. To exclude light rays only, the cover and lower portion are so constructed that no light can pass at their surfaces of contact, 5'.

' Within this case I provide shaft receptacles, 6, one at each end of the box, for receiving a shaft, 7, upon which may be placed a roll, 8, of thcsensitive membrane to be dispensed.

Parallel with shaft 7.is suitably mounted in' bearings a measuring roller, 9, provided with a shaft, 10, one end of which projects through the end of the receptacle and is provided with a hand crank 11, by means of which the measuring roller may be rotated from withcuwhe receptacle. Suitably mounted in bearings attached to the cover portion of the receptacle are two pressure rollers, 12, which are so positioned as to press firmly against the measuring roller 8;'"when' the receptacle is closed.

Adjacent and parallel to the measuring roll is a pair of guide plates co'mpo'sed'of an upper plate, 13, and a lower plate, 14, s'paced apart andconverging in a manner adapted-toreceive the strip of membrane as it passes themeasuring roller,'8, and guide it and position it in reference to the knife blade, 15. Adjacent and parallel to the knife blade 15 is a'second pair of guide plates composed of an upper plate16 which'is attached to the cover portion of the receptacle 1 and a lower plate 17, which is attached to the lower portion ofthe receptacle; These two guide plates are so positioned that when the receptacle 'is closed they converge toward the exterior of the receptacle in a manner adapted to receive the membrane as it passes the knife blade 15 and guide it through the narrow slot formed by thetwo guide plates tothe 'exterior' of the receptacle. Attached to the cover, 3, of the receptacle is arflap, 18, of soft,flexible, opaque fabric, such'asfelt, which serves to cover the narrow slot formed by the guide plates 16 and 1'7; and so'exclude light from the interior of the receptacle.- The flexibility of this flap, I8, permits the membrane to displace it as the membrane emerges from the.receptaclethrough the slot. 7

Within the receptacle 1 is mounted a cut-off device, which I prefer to be of :therotary disc knife type shown'in the. drawing butwhich may be of other well known types.- This cut-off device consists of a disc-knife,19,mountedon a carriage,

20, which slides'freely on two parallelguide rods, 21. These guide rods are attached to end blocks, 22, which are pivoted on-studs, 23, mounted on the inside of thereceptacle,. 1'. Attached'to each of the end blocks, 22, are leaf springs, '24, provided 7 with adjusting screws, 25,- contacting'with lugs,

. endof the receptacle and is provided with a suitable handle or ring, 31, so arranged that by'movement of this rod-the carriage,'20, carryingthe disc knife, 19, may be caused to traverse thelength of I claim:..

operating with the dial is a pointer, 33, movably mounted on a shaft, 34, which passes through the centre of the dial, 32, and through the wall of the receptacle and has rigidly mounted on its inner end a chain sprocket, 35. Upon the shaft, 10, of f the measuring roll, 9, is rigidly mounted a chain sprocket, 36. A chain, 37, operatively connects, sprockets 35 and 36, which are-of such relative size that the lineaLmovement in-inches of the periphery of the measuring roll, 9, isaccur'ately indicated by the pointer, 33, on the dial, 32. By

means of the movable mounting of the pointer, 33,

on the shaft, 34, the pointer may be turned to the 'zero pointio'n thescale each time the dispenser is used. i p h I V Having described the'fconstruction of a preferredform of my device, Iwill now describe the manner of its operation.

l3 and 14; and to a point beyond thecutting edge of the knife blade, 15. 'I'hereceptacleis closed and .by means of the pull rod, 31, the disc knife; 1 19, is caused to traverse-the length of the knife,

blade, 15, and sever the membrane at the line of contact. Having thus squared up and trimmed the end of the strip of membrane and having'removed the piece of membrane so severed,'-.the

pointer, 33, is-set at zero on the dial, 322,- and the,

crank, 11, is turned in the direction of. the arrow untilthe pointer, 33, actuatedbymeansof the sprockets, 35 and 36 and the chain 37'indicates on the dial, 32, that the exactnumberiof inches of membrane desired-by the operator have passed over the measuringroll, 9, and advanced past the cutting edge of the knife blade, 15; Thedisc knife is then caused to, traverse the knife blade,;15,

It will be evident from the above description of the device and of its operation that cut sheets ofanyexact length desired maybe made avails able from the supply roll within the receptacle;

without danger of exposure to light or rays in a minimum of time andwith a minimum of effect. Having described my{ invention and shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof, I wlll now state what I believe to be new and novel,*and for which I pray thatLetters Patent be granted.

' 1. Asan'article of commerce, a devicefor'storingand dispensing ray sensitive strip membrane, including in combination a ray-excluding casing,

means for, dispensably supporting a supply of strip membrane therewithin, means operablefrom the exterior of said casing for measuringfrom said desired length ofumembrane arid means. operable from without the casing the desired strip of membrane.

for cum i g.

, I I iw V 2. As an article of commerce, a device for stor r ing and dispensing ray sensitiv'e strip membrane, including in combination a ray-excluding casing,

-means for rotatably supporting a roll 'of me'mr- 19 1 13 3232 3 3 5929 1 9 295 the f g ,1

without the casing for indicating said desired length of unrolled membrane, and means operable from withoutfthe casing for-cutting'off said" desired length of unrolled membrane.

3; As an article of commerce, a device for storing and dispensing ray sensitive strip membrane, including in combinationaway-excluding casing, means for dispensably supporting a supply of strip membrane therewithin, means operable from the exterior of said casing -for measuring from said supply a desiredlength of membrane, means viewable from without the casing for indicating said, desired length of nmembrane, and means for cutting ofi the desired strip 0f;membranewithin the casing.v i I J 4, As an article of commerce,- a device for storing and dispensing ray sensitive strip membrane, including in combination, a ray-excluding :casing, means for -dispensably supporting a supply of strip membrane therewithin, means operable from the exterior of saidcasing for measuring withinthe casing adesired length of membrane, means viewable from without the casing forindicating said desired length of membrane, means for cutting off the desired strip of membrane within the casing, and meansfor delivering the cut ofi membrane from the ray-excluding casing.

5. As an article of commerce, a device for storing and dispensing 'ray sensitive strip'membrane, including in combination a ray-excluding casing, a support for a roll of sensitive membrane within the casing,'a cutterwithin the'casing,;means for unrolling a desired length of strip past the cutter, means viewable from without the casing for indicating said unrolled length, and means for operating the cutter in cutting off said unrolled length. 6. As an article of commerce, a device for storing and dispensing ray sensitive strip membrane, including in combinationa ray-excluding casing, asupport for a roll of sensitive membrane within the casing, a cutter within the casing, means for unrolling a desired length, of strip past the cutter, means viewable from without the casing for indicating said unrolled length, and means operable from without the casing for operating the cutter in cutting ofi said unrolled'length.

7. As an article of commerce,:a device forstoring and dispensing ray sensitive strip membrane,- including in combination a ray-excluding casing, a support for a roll of sensitive membrane within the casing, a cutter within the casing, means for unrolling a desired length of strip past the cutter, means viewable from without the casing for indicating said unrolled length, and means for cutting 01f said unrolled length within said casing. a

8. As an article of commerce, a device for storing and dispensing ray sensitive strip membrane, including in combination a ray-excluding casing, a support for a roll of sensitive membrane within the casing, a cutter within the casing, means for unrolling a desired length of strip past the cutter, means viewable from without the casing for indicating said unrolled length, means for cutting ing and dispensing ray sensitive strip membrane,

including in combination a ray-excluding casing, means 'for dispensably supporting a supply of strip membrane therewithin, devices operable from without the casing for measuring and,

severing a desired length of. membrane and affecting the ray-excluding condition. 1

-10. As an article of commerce, a device for storing and dispensing ray sensitive strip membrane, including in combination means whereon rolls of membrane of various widths may be'supported, means operable from therexterior of said casing for unrolling within the casing a desired length of m'embrane irrespective of its width, means viewable from without the; casing for indicating said desiredlength oflunrolled membrane, and means operable'fromwithout the easing for cutting off said desired length of membrane;

11; As an article of commerce,a device for means *for delivering the severed strip without storing and dispensingray sensitive strip mem- 1 brane,' including in combination a ray-excluding casing, means for dispensably supporting a supply' of strip membrane therewithin, means operable from' without the casing for measuring a desired length ofmembrane and projecting the end of the measured strip from the casing through a normally sealed opening, and means operable ting off the desired length of membranein aposition where it is acc es ible for withdrawal'fro'm Without the'casing.

13 A device for storing rolled ray-sensitive strip membi'aneandcapacitated to'dispense from asingle roll a plurality of standard sizes of cut films, including in combination a casing, means within the casing for rotatably mounting'membrane rolls of different widths, means operable.

from the exterior of the casing for unwinding and measuring variable desired lengths of said mem brane, means viewable from without the-casing for indicating said desired length of membrane, and means operable from without thecasing for cutting ofi the desired length of membrane in a position where it is accessible for withdrawal from'the casing.

14. A device for storing rolled ray-sensitive strip membrane and capacitated to dispense from a single roll a plurality of standard sizes of cut films, including in combination a casing, means within the casing for rotatably mounting membrane rolls of different widths, means operable from the exterior of the casing for unwinding and lmeasuring variable desired lengths of said membrane and settable by the operator in relation with the particular width of membrane roll used to alternatively measure off either a long or short dimension of a desired cut film, means viewable from without the casing for indicating said desired measured length of membrane, means operable from withoutthe casing for cutting off the desired length of membrane and means permitting the withdrawal of the cut-off membrane from the casing.

15. A device for storing rolled ray-sensitive strip membrane and capacitated to dispense from a single roll a pluralityof standard sizes of cut film, including in combination a casing, means within the casing for interchangeably receiving and rotatably supporting any one-of a plurality:

of membrane rolls of different widths, the various widths having definite relation to the standard sizes of cut films,means operable from the excasing for cutting oil the desired length of membrane and means permitting the Withdrawal of the cut-ofi membrane from the-casing.

16. A device for storing ray-sensitive strip membrane and capacitated to dispense from a single roll a plurality'of desired sizes of cut films, including in combination a casing, means within thecasing for interchangeably. receiving and rotatably supporting any one of a plurality of membrane rolls of difierent widths,,the various-widths having a definite relation to the desired sizes of out films, means for unwinding and measuring variable desiredlengthsof said membrane and settable by the operator in relation with the particular Width of .;mem braneroll used to measure the other dimension o'fthe desired cut film, measure-indicating means, and means forr cutting off the measured andin dicated length of strip mem brane. e

17. The method of derivinga'relatively large number of standard sizes o f cut radiographic films from a relatively few sources of radiographic film strip, which comprises selecting a relatively small number of supply, sourcesof radioraphic film strips of 1 different widths, which widths have definite relations to the sizes of film sheets to be cut off, selecting a film strip source because'of dimensional relation of its. width to a desired size of out film, Withdrawing a lengthof film corresponding to the other dimension 'of thedesired film sheet and severing said length of film sheet and withdrawingit from the supply;

18. The method of deriving a relatively large number of sizes of cutradiographicfilms from a relatively few sources of rolled radiographic film strip-which comprises selecting a relatively small number of rolls of radiographic film of difierent widths, said widths varyingin definite relations to desired sizes of film to be out off, unrolling 'from a. rollselected because ;of;dimensiona.l relation of its width to -one, dimension of azdeslred size of cut film a length of film representing the other dimension of the desired cut film,;and sever-r,

ing said length of vfilm from the roll,

19. The method of deriving. a relatively large number .of sizes ofcutradiographic films from a Y a relatively. ,few' sources. .of rayrprotected rolled radiographic filmstrip, which comprisesunrolling from a selectedrone of a plurality-of: rolls a length corresponding to either the length or width'offaqgg standard size of'cut film,.the other dimension-o1 cut'film' being the widthbf the roll, cutting 01! said measured length andv removing it from the protective means. I

number of standard sizes of out radl o'graphic films from'a relatively 'few isou'rces of radiographic film strip, which comprises selecting '8.

a relatively'small-number of s'upplysources ot radiographic film stripsl'of difierent widths, which 1 widths have definite relations to the 'sizesof film sheets to be cutoff, selecting a film strip source because of dimensional relation of its width to a desired size'of cut film; withdrawing a length of film corresponding to the' other dimension of the desired film sheet and severing said length or film sheet and withdrawing it from'the' supply.

21. The method of deriving a relativelylarge number of sizes of cut, radiographic filmsfrom a relatively .few' sources of rolled radiographic film strip which comprises selectingza relatively small number of rolls of radiographiefilm of .difierent widths, said widths. varying in definite relations to desired sizes of film tobe cut ofl,junrollin g from 20'. The method ofderiving a-relatively large a roll'selected because, of dimensional relation of its width-to one dimension ofra' desired size of cut film a length of filmrepresenting the other dimensionof the desired cutfilm; and. severing said length of film'from the'rolL 22. The methoduof'deriving'a relativelyjlarge number of sizesof cutradiographic fllm's'from a' relatively few sources of ray-protected rolle'r radiographic film strip, which comprises unrolling I said 'measuredl'ength and removing it"from the" protective means. I V. or ,7 'FflEtANK 'I-JPOWERS; 

